Secured Freedom tries turf for first time in Oceanside
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Friday’s opening day of the Del Mar summer meeting represents a career change for Secured Freedom, the winner of the $101,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds on dirt at Santa Anita on June 15.
For the first time, Secured Freedom will race on turf in the $150,000 Oceanside Handicap at a mile for 3-year-olds.
“If he does take to the turf, it opens up more opportunities,” trainer Tim Yakteen said on Wednesday.
After the win in the Affirmed, Secured Freedom’s first stakes win, Yakteen and owners Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley discussed sending the colt to the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, which was run last Saturday. Secured Freedom was not sent to the Midwest. He was also nominated to Saturday’s Grade 1 Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Monmouth Park.
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“There were a number of races on the table,” Yakteen said. “We didn’t rule anything out. The Haskell came up much deeper than the Oceanside.”
Yakteen said the distance of the Oceanside was another deciding factor to remain in California.
“I think we’re trying to find our optimum distance,” he said. “We’re able to run out of our barn.”
The Oceanside Handicap, the eighth race on Friday’s 10-race program, drew a full field of 12. Ramon Vazquez has the mount for the first time on Secured Freedom, who often races from a stalking position.
Secured Freedom, who starts from post 2, should have a favorable trip in the Oceanside if runners such as Mo Koko or Proletariat show speed.
“It does look like there will be some pace in the race,” Yakteen said.
The Oceanside Handicap would not have been an option for Secured Freedom in past years. The conditions of the race were changed by Del Mar management this year.
The race was previously restricted to 3-year-olds who had not won a purse worth $50,000 or more to the winner at a mile or more in the calendar year in which it was run. The restriction often prevented two-turn stakes winners in the first six months of the year from starting in the Oceanside.
Secured Freedom earned $60,000 from his win in the Affirmed.
Unrivaled Time, winner of the $127,500 Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita on turf on May 23, and Bust Out, winner of the $98,000 Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita on May 17, are two other runners in the Oceanside Handicap that would have previously been excluded.